Final Fantasy is one of my favorite franchises ever. We all know that Square-Enix is already working on Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, but I'm also pretty sure that they're also working (or at least planning) the next mainline game, which will be the 17th game in the series.

FF16 released in 2023, so I suspect after Remake Part 3 we will begin to hear something about it. Here are my thoughts:

- Gameplay: XV and XVI had more action-based combat, but people are asking for the return of turn-based gameplay for ages, and the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could very well impact Square-Enix. I suspect it will still be action oriented, but we will see.

- Platforms: At this rate, it's pretty clear XVII will release on next-gen systems (PS6, Xbox Helix, PC), or at the very least, it will be cross-gen. Since Square usually pushes the limits with their mainline FFs, I expect it to focus on next-gen hardware.

- Online: I'm not going to lie, I will be VERY disappointed if XVII is an online game like XI and XIV. The reason I play FF is to enjoy a single-player experience, with focus on narrative and intense moments. That said, I don't EXPECT it to be online focused, but I could be wrong.

So, what do you expect for the next mainline Final Fantasy game?

Cross-gen. Helix will already be out and PS6 might be, but cross-gen became even more popular this gen than it has ever been.
I'm expecting a turn-based game. I know it will have been over 25 years, but FF is at a crossroads. What does Square Enix have to lose?
It will be a multi-platform and PC game. There might be somewhat of a delay in versions possibly, but it will be transparent before release.
Likely platforms: PS5, PS6, PC, Xbox Helix
Possible: Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2. These aren't overly likely as Series S and Switch 2 are bottlenecks.
Broad Release Estimate: Not before September 2028, not after November 2030.

Cross gen. It will be a 2030 release, one or two years after FF VII Part 3

It's still far, far away IMO.
2030 is my guess.
Available on all systems PS5, XBS, NS2, PS6, XBH/PC

I have no clue what the gameplay will be about tho, but I think they won't try turn based anymore.

...

And I hope we have Persona 6 before it.

Road-trip RPG, basically a better version of FF15.

A serviceable story. I don't want the nonsense of the FF7 remake or the dullness of FF16. Even FF15 has a more interesting than either.

Playable on PS5 at 60fps, because I'm not buying a PS6 unless I really have to.

Expectations and hopes. 

1. Removes/adapts the naming convention.


It's getting hard to follow (XVII is getting a bit too much) and I think it will put off new fans knowing that a game is the 17th "Sequel" with nothing else to go on. Note how resident evil now has names like Requiem/Village etc which make it easier to define. Call of Duty also has naming conventions which breakdown the numbers into more digestible titles. So I'm expecting subtitles which are the forefront of the marketing whilst the number will be deprioritised. So a game like FF16 would of instead been something like Final Fantasy XVI: Ifrit's Awakening 

2. Its coming sooner than people expect.

I'm optimistically thinking 2028. They've commented recently that the long development times are a problem and preventing young audiences from attaching to the franchise. I'm not properly aware of SE's development teams, but I would hope to think that a team has been working on FF17 since 2023 (or even before) and a 5 year develppment cycle with a more familiar engine (UE5 or Luminous) and somewhat reduced scope (budget constraint) is going lead to sooner release than before.

3. More turn based/slightly smaller budget.

SE will be crazy not to pay attention to whats going on around them. They're getting lost in a sea of action RPGs from elsewhere in Asia whilst at the same time having their mainline FFs make less profit compared to their own retro/nostalgic DQ remakes and 2DHD titles. This must make them do some soul searching. I don't think we'll get full on turn based but we will get a more RPG driven game with more turn-based elements (more than VII R) and scope which still feels AAA but maybe isn't filled with as much crazy CG and in-game cutscenes.

4. This is a personal hope. Please make something original.

The same way that 7 was a ground breaking combination of steampunk and Japanese inspired Fantasy, the same way that 10 was and is still a fantasy world unlike anything else we've seen... They need to create a very distinct world which doesn't look like other Japanese or Wester RPGs and bring back bold, distinct character designs and partys. 16 was way too grounded in medevil fantasy and 15, too much in modern realism. Both still beautiful but the franchise really to make a statement with the next game.  

I don't think that Clair Obscur will affect them into going turn-based. We've had successful turn-based games the entire time and they still didn't budge, even within their own company (Dragon Quest remained turn-based and still did great), but also things like Yakuza shifting to turn-based combat over action and growing bigger than ever.

I'd be happy if they went back to something more strategic, but I'm very much not expecting it. They've been extremely stubborn on this in particular, for reasons totally unfathomable to me.

As for hopes, I don't know. I enjoyed FF15 okay but I never even looked at FF16 after they made it into some kind of Game of Thrones-inspired thing. That's about as far from Final Fantasy as I can imagine while still remaining in the "fantasy" realm, so they've already lost me completely. If they bring me back with 17 that'd be great, but I can't say I have high hopes.

Hopefully it isn't a flaming pile like 16. No doubt all platforms day 1. I think they learn something from Clair Obscure and go more traditional.

Isnt to soon for speculations. We are still far from next main line FF game. My guess, at best, is 2030 at worst 2032.
It will be on next gen and PC but not on Switch 2
Also they are not going back to turn based combat, i think they even said that witch is great. Turn based combat just prolong game for no reason.
Why would Clair Obscure make them change anything. It is one of the weakest GOTY winners and the reason why it won it is because games last year were extremely average.

Atlas is taking waaaaaaaayyyy tooo long for P6, easily my most wanted game, feels like a dream rather than a reality at this point